A scarce partly-printed consular appointment signed by President James K. Polk, dated August 1, 1845, naming Alexander J. Berger as U.S. Consul to Bermuda. The document is also signed by Secretary of State James Buchanan, who would later become the 15th President of the United States. The appointment is neatly executed on an oblong folio sheet measuring approximately 12 by 17 inches, with both signatures clearly visible alongside a large embossed white paper seal of the United States at the lower left.
Issued during the final year of Polk’s presidency, this document reflects an era of rapid American expansion following the Mexican-American War and the acquisition of western territories. The dual signatures of two U.S. presidents make it especially desirable among collectors.
The piece is attractively matted and framed, measuring approximately 18.25 by 23.25 inches overall.
James K. Polk (November 2, 1795 – June 15, 1849) was the 11th president of the United States, serving from 1845 to 1849. A protégé of Andrew Jackson and a member of the Democratic Party, he was an advocate of Jacksonian democracy and extending the territory of the United States. Polk led the U.S. into the Mexican–American War, and after winning the war he annexed the Republic of Texas, the Oregon Territory, and the Mexican Cession.
James Buchanan Jr. (April 23, 1791 – June 1, 1868) was the 15th president of the United States, serving from 1857 to 1861. He also served as the secretary of state from 1845 to 1849 and represented Pennsylvania in both houses of the U.S. Congress. Buchanan was an advocate for states' rights, particularly regarding slavery, and minimized the role of the federal government preceding the American Civil War.
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